Battleground Polls
U.S. air quality maps
John F. Seiberling passes
In 2001, President Clinton awarded Seiberling the Presidential Citizens Medal. Clinton called him an “environmental hero” for crafting the Alaska Lands Act of 1980, which doubled the size of the U.S. national parks and wildlife refuges nationwide. It also tripled the area of federally designated wilderness
Energy boom in the West threatens Indian artifacts
Much more definite is that a giant new project to drill for carbon dioxide is gathering steam on the park’s eastern flank. Miles of green pipe snake along the roadways, as trucks ply the dirt roads from a big gas compressor station. About 80 percent of the monument’s 164,000 acres is leased for energy development.
Montana: Three fires burning in the Bitterroot National Forest
Those fires are being managed as a “wildland fire use fire,” meaning the Forest Service isn’t actively fighting or suppressing them. The newest fire, the Arrasta Fire, is approximately a half-acre to 1 acre in size. Discovered on Friday afternoon, this fire is probably a holdover from Tuesday’s lightning storm. It is burning in the Burnt Fork drainage southeast of Stevensville, according to the Forest Service.
Colorado: Black bear plays through at U.S. Senior Open
Stealing the show, however, was a black bear that ambled out of the mountains in the morning and crossed the 13th fairway before checking out spectators outside the ropes.
Yellowstone LeHardy fire triples in size
The Yellowstone Park fire grew from 505 to 1,795 acres on Friday, said fire information officer Sandy Hare. Smokejumpers, hotshots and engine crews, aided by water drops from helicopters, were able to build a control line along the section of the fire on the west bank of the Yellowstone River.